THE PRESS BOX.

Hewitt's long day ends with 2nd title

Lleyton Hewitt won the Queen's Club championship in London for the second straight year, defeating Pete Sampras in the semifinal and Tim Henman in two tiebreakers for the title.

The semifinals and final of the $800,000 Wimbledon tuneup were both played Sunday because of rain Saturday.

"It's unbelievable to win the title in this way and beat two of the best grass-court players in the world," Hewitt said. "I would have told someone they were probably dreaming if they had told me that was going to happen today."

The third-seeded Aussie downed Sampras 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a rematch of last year's final. He then moved to center court to beat fourth-seeded Henman 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3), who had downed Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the semis.

In the final, Henman broke for a 5-4 lead in the second set but Hewitt broke back immediately. In the tiebreak, Henman netted a forehand to give Hewitt three match points.

Hewitt's best showing at Wimbledon was the third round two years ago. But he says he is now a more aggressive player. "They said I [had] a chance last year, but I lost in the first round," he said. "I've got nothing to lose this year."

Sampras does not regard the loss as a setback in his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title. "I've got a few matches under my belt," he said. "I feel pretty good. It wasn't meant to be today."

- Thomas Johansson of Sweden won his first title of the year and fifth of his career, beating Fabrice Santoro of France 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 to capture the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.